Also, new orders rose at a softer pace while employment fell for the fourth month in a row.
Meantime, export sales were broadly unchanged amid a further rise in buying activity.
Finally, sentiment weakened to an 8-month low, amid worries over sluggish market conditions.
“A slew of recent economic data suggests that China’s recovery has yet to find a stable footing,” said Dr. Wang Zhe, an economist at Caixin Insight Group.